Raft or boat



March 4, 1930. EYER 1;749,711

RAFT 0R BOAT Filed Sept. 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l V Mgr].

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March 4; 1930.

1 H. MEYER RAFT OR BOAT Filed Sept. 26, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 In venior:

March 4, 1930. MEYER RAFT on BOAT Filed Sept, 26, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 /n Panto/w Patented Mar. 4, 1930 i UN rmmmmv mama, or BEnLnv, GERMANY Bur on BOAT Application filed September 26, 1927, Serial No. 222,083, an'd in Germany October 11, 1926.

This invention relates to that class of rafts or boats, the boat or body portion ofwhich consists of an inflatable surrounding shell comprising two longitudinally extending parallel portions and two curved tapering 7 portions having the contour of the body or hull of a boat.

The principal characteristic of the invention consists in forming the surrounding or outer shell so that it-is divided into a large number of float compartments, which can be inflated in groups or singly, and which can be isolated from one another, so that in the event of leakage of one of the float compartments, the air will not escape from the others.

In addition the removal of air from the compartmentsto enable the raft to be folded up when not in use may be effected as a whole as groups or. from a single compartment only. The subject of the invention is illustrated according to one constructional embodiment in the following drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the raft, with parts shewn in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section.

' Fig. 4 is'a part bottom lan.

Figs. 5 and 6 shew details of the carrying means.

3o Figs. 7 to 12 are details of the air conduits and means for stopperingor closing the same.

- Figs. 13 and 14 are details referring to the means" of attaching the'seats.

Figs. 15 to 17 shew details referring to the means for mounting the rowlocks.

Fig. 18 is a vertical section of one particular construction of stopperingvalve for the float compartment.

4 Fig. 19 is another constructional form of the stoppering valve.

Referringto Figs.- 1 to 3, the hull or body of the raft consists of two longitudinally ex tending parallel portions and two curved tapering portions ore and aft forming a surrounding shell. This shell isdivi transverse'partitions 2 into float compartments 3, separated from one another. Atthe 11 per surface of the shell 1 forming the hull, one or more inflating and deed by flating conduits 4 or 5 are provided for filling the various compartments with air or for. emptying them. These conduits may be secured in position by any suitable means, such for instanceas by means of a suitable adhesive. The outlet conduit, for instance 4,

is connected above a compartment by means of channels to the said conduit. Between any two compartments special shut ofl elements, shut 01f valves or the like are pro Vided, which is denoted by 6 in Figs. 1 and 2 and are on the air lines, so that the compartments can be isolated from one another and conse uently the separation of any compartment rom the others can be effected. If the compartments are to be inflated as a whole or in groups, then the stoppering -means or isolating means 6 are opened and then air is blown in by means of an inflator such as an air pump or other suitable apparatus through either end of the conduits 4 or 5, which ends are open for such purposes. Similarly for deflating the compartments as a whole the stoppering means 6 for the air conduit 4 or 5 is opened and then the simultaneous deflation of the float compartments 3 can be effected. If the stoppering means 6 are closed, any particular floatcompartment 3. may leak, without the other compartments, in particular the neighboring ones, being effected. a

The, bottom 7 of the boat is secured to the lower surface of the annular tube 1 by being glued thereon. On its under side project ing or keel like bars 8 arealso secured by gluing to protect the bottom against injury when the boat is to be placed on a firm basls or strikes some firm obstacle. Furthermore, this bottom of the boat is suspended by means of cords or strings 9 which are connected to with an inner strip 10 of the annular tube, so that this bottom is doubl secured. The bottom is provided with eel like protecting bars 8. p

Extending along the outer portion of the shell forming the hull of the raft are holdin bars 11 or 12, which are arranged in space relation to shell 1 and are connected thereto by studs 11, 12 respectively. Loops 11", 12 are respectively passed around said holding bars as shown in Figures 5 and 6 and farm hand grips, said bars and loops facilitating the ban ling of the raft. In a particular case a rope 13 may be inserted between the carrierbars 11 and extend around the shell of the boat in. order to be able to pull it along conveniently.

At the upper side of the longitudinally tending portions of the shell 1 forming the hull of the raft means are provided for olding the carriers for the rowlocks. Forthis purpose transverse seats or boards are arranged at distances apart. These seats or boards, 14 may be attached for instance by means of eye rings 17 co-operating with clamping strips 18, by means of which the boards 14' are laced to the shell of the raft.

To these boards 14 the carriers 15 for the rowlocks are attached as by means of screws or the like and the rowlocks 16 for the oars are mounted thereon. For steering the raft there is a special rowlock 19 mounted at the rear end of the shell of the raft. This is carried by a strip 21 of flexible fabric which is clamped to the shell by means of lacing fla s22. Throu htheo ening 20 of this rowloc the oar or t e like or steering is passed.

The closure of the inflating and deflatin conduits for the compartments to shut 0E these conduits between each two compartments is efiected by means of a closure device illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12. This closure device comprises a yoke or bail shaped member 23, 24 secured on the upper surface of the annular tube 1 b a suitable adhesive. The inflating and de ating conduits 4 and 5 respectively pass over this bail shaped member 23, 24. Two flaps or arms 25, 26 are pivotally secured to this yoke 23, 24. When these arms or flaps are moved from open position shown in Figs. 8 and 10, to enter in direction of the arrow to closure position, they are led over the conduit passing over the yoke 23, 24 to flatten thereby this conduit. In this lowered position of the arms'25, 26, these arms are retained by a locking ring which may for instance be suspended from one of these arms, as for instance from the arm 26, and which in the lowered position of the arms projects over a lug or nose on the other arm, as at 25.

In order to retain the shut-0E device comprising the yoke 23, 24 and flaps or arms 25,

' 26 in shut-ofi position, there is provided a cover 27 secured underneath the yoke 23, 24

and ada ted to be folded-down upon the yoke 23, 24 a ter the arms or flaps 25, 26 have been lowered. In this folded position the cover 27 is then retained by strings or a cord. The string 29 for this purpose is secured to a plate 6 28 which is glued to the annular tube, and this cord or string 29 can be pulled at its free end 30 through an opening in the cover 27.

The valve shown in Fig. 18 is not to be used in association with the inflating and deflating conduits shown in Figs. 1, 2,- 3 and 8 to 10.

conduit may be placed on the top of the valve shown in Fig. 18 when the valve occupies the position indicated in said figure. The plug 40 of the valve or cook then establishes communication between one compartment and the neighboring compartment. Air for inflation must then flow upon depression of the valve element 41 to the neighboring compartment, and from there it flows through the plug 40 which in this compartment is in the same position, so that it will pass serially through all of the compartments. If it is desired to inflats them in groups, it will sufiice toadjust the valve plug at a certain compartment in such manner that this plug will then interrupt the communication with the adjacent compartment. Under that condition that groupof compartments will be inflated only which are interconnected with each other. Again each compartment may be inflated by itself and independently of the others, pro-,

zle 37 with a connection 38 to the next neighboring compartment 3, the connection 38 be ing mounted by means of a flange 39 on the dividing wall 2 between the two-compartments.

In the seating 31 is mounted the actual valve casing 34, which takes over the cover 1 of the chamber by means of a flange 33. In the valve casing is rotatably mounted the plug 40, which is rotatable by means of a handle 40, so that an opening 41 can be brought into communication with the nozzle 37 or so that the said nozzle can be closed. In the first case the two compartments or float chambers are in communication with each other, in the second case they are cutofit' from each other. The upper portion of the plug 40 is provided with a closing valve 41, which is kept pressed upwards by means of a spring 42 in a tubular'seating 43, with which said valve is provided. The valve 41 can be pushed downwards by means of a peg or key 41 adapted to be inserted therein, and then it may be sli htly turned, so that the projecting nose 4% comes beneath and is engaged under the surface 45 of the rib 46 and in this way the valve plate is held in the lowered position. when deflation is necessary.

The body of the plug is held in the casing 31 by means of a nut 51, which engages a This manipulation is required screw threaded portion 50 on a bolt 49, which is mounted on a cross piece 48 attached to a nut 36 screwing on to the seating member 34.

- 44 is a nut like cap, which closes the plug in at the top.

If the float compartments are all to be inflated at the same time, then, with the parts in the position shown at Fig. 18, the cap 44 is unscrewed and in its place there is attached the tube of the pump.

Under the air pressure, the valve 41 moves somewhat downwards, so that the blowing air passes through the plug 40 into the corresponding chamber 3 and through the opening 41 into the neighboring chamber and so According to the constructional embodiment of the isolating valve according to Fig. 19, the valve casing 61 is attached by means of aright angled flangedmember, or rubber or the like, to the covering 63, the attachment being effected in the neighbourhood of one of the transverse partitions 64 by which the shell is divided in the required position intotwo compartments. The valve casing 61 is furnished with a lateral extension 65, which projects through an opening in the partition 64, and is rendered tight with respect thereto by a right angled flanged connection 66. In the valve casing 61 is carried a tubular body 67 which can be moved longitudinally and which when screwed down to the bottom closes the opening of the lateral extension 65, while the forward end comes down upon a packing ring 69 resting in a turned over portion 70 of the casing 61.

At the upper end of the tubular body 67 is provided an outwardly extending right angled flange 71 which closes down against the valve casing 61 with the interposition of a packing washer 72. With this arrangement in the final position of the valve body-67 there is complete air tightness between the two chambers of the shell of the boat separated by the partition 64. The upper transverse wall 73 of the hollow valve body 67 is formed as a Valve seating, against which the valve plate 74 rests and by means of the spring 75 is held firmly against the valve seating. At the lower end, the

spring 75 rests against the transverse member 76 of the body 67. If air under pressure is blown in from the upper side of the valve body 67, then the valve plate 74 opens against pressure of the spring 75, so that the air under pressure passes iii the position in which the hollow body 67 is screwed down only into one chamber, or else, where the valve body 67 is screwed up it passes through the lateral extension 65 into the neighbouring chamber.

The valve plate 74 can also be pressed down manually by placing the thumb thereon after having first removed the cover against the stress of a spring 5, and in the lowered posito effect this, the stem 77 connected to the valve plate 74 is provided with a transverse pin 78, which slides in a longitudinal 'slot 79 in a transverse member 76. If the valve plate 74 with the rod 77 is pushed so far downwards that the transverse pin 78 comes under the lower. surface of the cross piece 76 and a slight motion of rotation is then communicated thereto, the transverse pin 78 comes under the member 76, beyond the longitudinal slot 79, and the valve plate 74 is held in the open position. In this position either one of the chambers (that is to say with the body 67 screwed down) is deflated, or else both with the tubular body 67 raised to the upper position) are deflated. 80 is a closing cover by which the isolating valve is protected from injury.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America l. A raft of the class described, having an inflatable surrounding shell constituting the hull and provided with a plurality of spaced transverse walls dividing the shell into float compartments and inflating means for said compartments including a tube arranged on the surface of the shell, fixedly connected thereto at a point opposite each compartment and disconnected from and free to pass over such surface at points between each two compartments.

2. A raft having an inflatable surrounding shell constituting the hull and provided with a plurality of spaced transverse walls dividing the shell into float compartments in combination with inflating tubes fixedly connected thereto at points opposite the compartments and disconnected from and free from such surface at points between each two compartments, said free disconnected parts being provided with manually operable closing elements.

3. Araftcomprisinganinflatablesurrounding shell constituting the hull, said shell having a plurality of spaced transverse walls by which said shell is divided into float compartments, and means whereby said compartments may be inflated or deflated simultaneously in groups or singly, said inflating means comprising a flexible tube extending along the shell and provided with closing means, said closing means comprising a flap .pivotally mounted on the shell and between tending along the shell and provided at points oppositethe compartment with pinch closmg means, said pinch closing means comprisa steering oar detachably secured in place by said attachment means, the said attachment compartments havingopenings and means a lama-m ing a plurality of flaps pivotally mounted on the shell and between which and the shell said conduit passes when the flaps are in closed position, and means to secure such flaps in such position.

5. A vessel as claimed in claim 3, in which the inflating means is a flexible conduit extending along the shell and provided with closing means, at points opposite the compartments, each of said closing means comprisin a yoke secured on the surface of the shell, aps pivotally connected to said yoke and arranged to pinch said conduit between said fiap and said yoke.

6. A vessel as claimed in claim 3,,in which the inflating means is a flexible conduit extending along the shell and provided with closing means, at points opposite the com partments, each of said closing means comprising a yoke secured on the surface of the shell, flaps pivotally connected to said yoke and arranged to pinch said conduit between said flap and said yoke and a fabric cover for said yoke and flap secured at one end to said yoke and provided at the free end with means for securing said-cover in coverin position.

A vessel of the class described, having an annular tubular shell forming the hull of the vessel, attachment meanson said shell at one end of the vessel, and a row lock for means comprising lacing flaps arranged to be closed under side portions of said car look and provided with lacings for securing said flaps together on the upper side of said side portions of the .row lock.

8. A vessel comprising an annular tubular shell forming the hull, a bottom secured to the under surface of the shell, a strip running around the inner side of the hull above the bottom andconnecting the opposite side portions of the shell and cords connecting said strip and said bottom and reinforcing the latter.

9. A raft or boat having an inflatable surrounding shell divided into compartments and means whereby the compartments may be inflated or deflated simultaneously in groups or singly, the partitions between the -whereby said openings can be closed to isolate the compartments.

v In w1tness whereof I affix mysignature/ HER-MANN MEYER, 

